trust

Trust, it's a good thing. It can be a safe place yet it is a scary place to get to sometimes. Trust is something that is given, earned or built. But what about God, what about when he asks you to trust Him.

What about when you're felling vulnerable and afraid. There just doesn't seem to be an easy solution to what feels like is broken in you or your life. God says to trust Him, that His ways are higher than ours. To not lean on our own understanding. And in all our ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct our paths. That man plans his own way but God's plans are usually different.

When you're looking for answers or when you're waiting for them. When you thought you knew the answers and it's STILL not working. Just stop for a moment...press in to Him and trust Him. Trusting God can sometimes, no...is usually always a blind trust. But does your Father love you? Does he desire good and the best for you? Does He desire for you to succeed?

Then trust Him.

Trust can be scary but you can allow it to be beautiful.

If you're in the middle of a storm...stop...breath...and ask God to help you to trust Him more. If the waves of life feel like they are pulling you down, ask Him for courage to stand and strength to endure.

Trust takes time so be patient, allow God to build that in you. Will you trust Him with your life, your family's life, your livelihood and things that you care about.

I challenge you....to trust Him more today.

The Good Lie

Everyone has a story.

Some are sad, others are moving, some are tragic, yet some are funny and uplifting.

This story is all of that...and more. You don't want to miss out on this opportunity to see this film, it has the potential to be life changing and I'm not just talking about your life.

Warner Bros. THE GOOD LIE is coming out on BluRay and DVD Dec. 23
The movie tells the true-life story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, their lives torn apart by civil war, left to grow up in refugee camps, then given the opportunity through the efforts of church groups and other charities to embark on new lives in the U.S. It stars Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon and some actual former Lost Boys in pivotal roles.

In fact, here’s a special video feature about the real-life stories behind the film, complete with interviews from Reese Witherspoon, Producer Ron Howard and the Lost Boys in the cast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhGPaX3MXfE

For your chance to win a free copy of this movie all you have to do is share this post and tag me in it. Everyone who does this will have there name placed in the drawing for the movie, The Good Lie.

stand

Usually when we are young we have dream and aspirations. We may aspire to be a great architect or writer, possibly a teacher or singer...they are all out there to be had. I can't imagine though that anyone thinks to themselves that when the get older, they want to struggle, to fail, make mistakes or hit the wall on any level. Yet, as life comes with it's challenges, we all fall upon these things in one way or another. It's never planned and you never know at which point it will or may happen. It's like a virus waiting to attack but has not been awakened yet. And most likely, it will happen more than once. Throughout your life it will happen on varying levels, probably dozens of times.

So, to this I say....be prepared. Do not allow any blows life may bring to knock you off your feet.

^"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." 1Cor 16:13

I know that the struggles will be hard, but press on, move forward. Be courageous and do not be afraid of what may come. Be strong and find your strength in Christ. You already know that greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world.

Know when you are weak, that He is strong. Know when to rest in Him to find strength. There is no other place to find this strength that is needed, we do not have it within ourselves. 

 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

We hold onto Him and continue to hold onto Him and the hope we profess, because He is faithful.

^" Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" Ephesians 6:13

And after you have done everything......stand.

your defining moment

As life circumstances change and begin to change us I have pondered the question...."What is it that defines us?" What is it that shapes who we are.

Is it the car you drive, the music you listen to, the clothes you wear or your make-up or hair? Is it your looks, style or maybe a little more spiritual...is it your personal beliefs and convictions that shape us? Do we ever arrive at a place where we say...Ok, now I am here and have reached the goal for which I set out? Or are we constantly changing and pursing and striving?

I would say that just as the earths form can be changed by the atmosphere that surrounds it, so can we be affected by our surroundings. A rock tumbling in the stream will become more smooth over time and wind blowing against a tree can bend the strong branches. But does the rock grumble that it is being rolled around down the stream asking God to stop the river? Does the tree beg God to calm the wind?
No, as a matter of fact it says they will praise Him.

Luke 19:40 (NIV)
⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
¹² You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

Let the river of life flow and let it bring life. Allow the wind and the Holy Spirit bend your heart closer to the Fathers heart. Do not become bitter and angry about life and it's circumstances. Press in and ask God to show you how you can grow and change through your surroundings. Don't let what you have or don't have define you. Allow God to bring change to your heart and let Him be what defines you. Life is never a walk in the park, it will be challenging, possibly overwhelming and even devastating. But with Christ, it can also be joy filled, even through the valley.
I can't always manage to be happy, but the joy of the Lord is still my strength.

Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.

Let the joy of the Lord define you today.

choose love

I know I have not been posting very much. Been too inconsistent, that would be my life, busy and inconsistent...busy is the one thing that will always be there.

And I pause to think about that. About the busyness of life.
I think about my recent trip to New York on a mission trip with the youth group. We went to the Ground Zero memorial and we had been walking so long and I was so tired that the enormity of it all may have slipped through my tired body.
But then as we walked to an open spot at the memorial to take the seemingly ritual photo, I saw it, our last name. The place we just happened to walk up to had the name of a person who shared our last name. And it sunk in a little more. But then I got home and looked up that name, and I read about this fireman's life, loves and family. I turned the corner and there was another who shared our last name.
It wasn't until today that I felt the pain for those lives lost like it was the day it happened.
And I thought about a friends post on her blog about her four children growing up so fast and I think about my four. Yes, time is going by way too fast.

We truly don't know the number of our days and our children really will be leaving the nest before we know it. I don't want to agree to that. I may be to tired or busy to reconcile and accept the fact that time and life are fleeting. But reality moves on without me because I am not the captain.

But the one thing I do have power over..is love.
I can chose to love.
I can chose to forgive.
I can chose to be patient.
I can chose to let God be in control and not worry about tomorrow.
I can chose to be the kind of friend I want to have.

God help me to make the right choices and teach my children the same.

Waking up early

There is something empowering about waking up before the sun. It makes you feel like you have won the race against the giant golden orb. Like you were there first. But there is also a stillness that is there...a quietness.

The days business has not begun and it doesn't have to. You almost don't want to move because once you move...well..you know...'An object in motion stays in motion until it's met by an immovable force....my bed!'

This morning I awoke and went for a brief walk with my eldest daughter...in the predawn minutes. We came back and there was my next oldest..my son. So we read our devotion together and prayed.

Waking up early is really not my thing...
But spending time with my oldest two..like that...is my thing.
I am glad I am not too old to change.

I hope you are not either.

Because you alone are a gift!

As a mother of four and caregiver to my Grandmother (which the responsibility is loving shared by my husband). As a runner of errands and all that comes with these responsibilities. I have been urged in different ways to take a moment.

I am taking a moment to find me. I want to find me before I realize late in life, that I am lost.

My mom raised 7 kids and as we all left and moved on in different directions in life, I am reminded of Charlotte, in Charlotte's Web...all her little spiderlings flew away and then...she...she wasted away to nothing.

Well, I am not saying that that is how my mother felt or that I am afraid of wasting away. But only that in the midst of the focus of raising kids and caring for others and your house...stop..and seek out your passion.

Don't wait for the right time or the right way or the enough money to afford. Make the way, make the time, be creative. Allow it to bubble up inside of you and get excited about it.

God gave you gifts...don't be afraid of them..they won't bite.

Don't compare your gifts...they are all unique...just as we are.

Praise others gifts and let them be an encouragement to you.

But for pete's sake....just begin..don't wait.

Because you matter.